Bill C-281

An Act to amend the Textile Labelling Act and the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act

Sponsor

Introduced as a private member’s bill. (These don’t often become law.)

Status

Outside the Order of Precedence (a private member's bill that hasn't yet won the draw that determines which private member's bills can be debated), as of June 3, 2026

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Summary

This is from the published bill.

This enactment amends the Textile Labelling Act to provide that Canadian flags that are at least 20 centimetres in width and 30 centimetres in length and that are sold, imported into Canada or advertised must have applied to them a label indicating their country of origin. It also amends the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act to provide that the packaging of such flags must also contain a label indicating the flags’ country of origin.

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

Bill numbers are reused for different bills each new session. Perhaps you were looking for one of these other C-281s:

C-281 (2022) International Human Rights Act

C-281 (2021) An Act to amend the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 (certificate of competency)

C-281 (2016) National Local Food Day Act

C-281 (2013) An Act to amend the Canada Transportation Act (discontinuance of listed sidings)

1^st reading

Textile Labelling ActRoutine Proceedings

June 3rd, 2026 / 3:50 p.m.

Conservative

Doug Shipley Conservative Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON

moved for leave to introduce Bill C‑281, An Act to amend the Textile Labelling Act and the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand and introduce my private member's bill today, entitled “the made in Canada flag act”. I would like to thank my friend and colleague for Saskatoon South for seconding this bill.

This act would require Canadian flags sold in Canada to clearly display their country of origin. Currently, there is no requirement for Canadian flags manufactured abroad to be labelled with their country of origin.

This is about honesty and fairness. Canadians deserve to know where their flags come from. If it is made in Canada, that is something to be proud of. If it is not, Canadians still have the right to make an informed choice. If Canadians want to buy Canadian-made flags, the choice should be obvious.

The proposed legislation would require Canadian flags that meet minimum size requirements to display a country-of-origin label directly on the product as well as on its packaging. This act would close a loophole that allows foreign-made flags to be sold without clear origin labelling and support Canadian manufacturers facing unfair competition from mislabelled or unlabelled imports, promote transparency, inform consumer choice and protect the integrity of the Canadian flag, a national symbol central to our identity.

This legislation would not ban imports or impose tariffs. It would simply ensure transparency. It is a practical measure that supports Canadian jobs and helps Canadians shop and display their national pride with confidence.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)